AFL Daily: Car accident leaves Crows star ‘shaken’; Powell-Pepper’s season over after ‘challenging’ run

A Crows star has reportedly been left “shaken” from a car accident.

Plus a beloved club favourite’s season is over. Read on in AFL Daily.

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CROWS STAR ‘SHAKEN BUT PHYSICALLY OK’ AFTER CAR ACCIDENT

Star Adelaide defender Josh Worrell has reportedly been involved in a car accident on Friday morning.

AFL journalist Tom Morris reports Worrell is “shaken but physically OK” after the accident.

The 25-year old missed training on Friday as a result but is expected to face Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Foxfooty.com.au has contacted the Crows.

MORE TO COME.

‘TAKEN IT OUT OF HIS HANDS’: SPP DONE FOR SEASON

Beloved Port Adelaide forward Sam Powell-Pepper will miss the remainder of the season as he grapples with the mental battle of consecutive ACL injuries on either knee.

Powell-Pepper was pulled from his second game back in the SANFL at quarter-time last weekend due to concerns with the wet conditions after an early knee scare.

The 28-year old has been put on an individual training program for around three to four weeks to help build up his confidence, with six games remaining in the SANFL campaign.

But Port coach Josh Carr confirmed the club had made the call to put Powell-Pepper on ice for the rest of 2026 with an eye on next season.

“We totally understand where it sits with him right now. Middle of winter, the ovals aren’t great. He hasn’t done a pre-season. So we’ve taken it out of his hands,” Carr said on Friday.

“We’ve had some good discussions over the past couple of days about what that looks like.

“So ‘Pep’ won’t play again this year, we think the best thing for him is to get through this year and attack the pre-season.”

Powell-Pepper has played 158 AFL games since 2017.

He signed a four-year extension in 2024 while injured that runs through 2029 in a strong showing of faith from the club.

“It’s all about getting everything right, and that time frame will take care of itself, whether it’s this year (or) next year,” Port assistance Darren Reeves said on Thursday.

“That’s not really that important. It’s around making sure he’s 100 per cent ready to go.

“It’s been a challenging couple of years for him. He’s still a young man with still so much upside and importance in what we’re doing as a football club.

“Making sure we’re giving him every chance to be the best version of himself.”

-Ben Cotton

FLAG COACH MAKES CALL ON BOMBERS JOB

Melbourne premiership coach Simon Goodwin has joined Nathan Buckley in turning down interest in the Essendon job, after being sounded out by Bombers president Andrew Welsh.

Goodwin, the Swans’ director of coaching and performance, has played an integral role in Sydney’s fast-paced transition offence, having joined Dean Cox’s staff at the end of last year.

It comes after Goodwin was dismissed by the Demons in August last year in somewhat acrimonious circumstances.

The experienced mentor has stated his desire to one day return to senior coaching, but speaking pre-game on Thursday night, it won’t be with the Bombers.

“I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m pretty open to some conversations,” Goodwin told AFL Nation radio.

“I’ve had an inquiry and a chat with Andrew Welsh, but that’s not a process I’m going to lean into.

“I’m loving my time in Sydney and continuing to evolve and get back into coaching and seeing where that takes me.

“But … it’s got to feel right for you as well, and the club, so right as we sit here now, I won’t be entering that process. I’ll keep developing, and hopefully when the right opportunity comes, I’ll go after it.”

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Goodwin hasn’t put a time expectation on when he’ll set his mind to re-entering the senior coaching sphere, but he knows an opportunity will eventually present.

“It just comes down to the right opportunity … I want to get back into senior coaching at some stage, and I know that’ll come up at some stage,” he said.

“You’re always tempted, there’s no doubt about that. If you’re keen to get back into it, you tend to have a chat to anyone.

“I was open to chatting to Welshy about what that opportunity might look like, but there’s a bit to work through in that process, and at the moment, where it sits right now, it’s not something that I’m going to pursue.”

In the coming days and weeks, Essendon is set to meet with at least James Hird, Hayden Skipworth, James Kelly, Corey Enright, Jaymie Graham and Mark McVeigh as part of its search, while Sydney premiership mentor John Longmire has remained tight-lipped on his potential Bombers interest.

DOCKERS’ SELECTION CONUNDRUM

The battle for Fremantle’s second ruck spot appears as open as ever after Thursday night.

With Luke Jackson clearly owning the Dockers’ number one ruck mantle, there seems to be competition for his back-up.

Cox was put into the line-up for the game against the Swans after a couple of runs in the WAFL with Peel Thunder.

It comes as the Dockers made the decision at the selection table this week to manage Sean Darcy.

He’s only played seven games at AFL level this season due to injury.

Coach Justin Longmuir admitted Darcy didn’t play because of the five-day break between the game against the Swans and last week’s loss to Greater Western Sydney.

He said that if the break was longer, Darcy would have played against the Swans.

But after Cox’s performance as Jackson’s deputy against Sydney, there’ll be interest in who lines up for the Dockers against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in Round 19.

Cox, who took some important intercept marks in defence, finished with 10 disposals, six marks, and 10 hitouts, as well as one of the Dockers’ nine final-term goals.

“A little bit of horses for courses,” Longmuir said in his post-match press conference on Thursday night.

“Everyone really needs to earn their spot in the side, don’t they?

“So, we’ve got competition for spots, not just in the ruck, we’ve got competition for spots all over the ground.

“Jaeger O’Meara, one of our more senior players and a leader, has been playing in the WAFL and out of the team.

“He got his opportunity tonight and came on and performed his role.

“So, it’s healthy competition for spots. It keeps everyone on edge and preparing really well.

“Our rucks are probably a bit the same.”

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